Who wrote the rule book ?

[BowBendr]

Who are the people that wrote the "official rule book for turkeys" ?

Every year about this time it seems like hunting forums can get a little crazy. Everybody is all excited and ready to get out and smash one, but it seems like when people start discussing tactics their minds lock up and their eyes glaze over and they'll fight you to the death over "my way is better than your because THEY said so"........who is they ?

You start a civil discussion and it usually winds up going this way:

You can't do this, you can't do that. Toms always roost over water, don't yelp more than 3 times, cutting makes a gobbler stand still and strut, hens always go to the toms and it can't be reversed, call too aggressive and he'll know you're a hunter, subordinate toms always come in silent, a turkey won't cross a creek, blah...blah....frickety blah.........

I've been hunting 39 springs now and back in the 70's there weren't many turkeys or turkey hunters around here, and the ones that did hunt wouldn't help for fear of you finding their spot. But they sure were quick to fill your head with what you can't do. Nobody ever told me what I could do, and it cost me. I still find myself trying to shake those tidbits of mis-information every spring. I have been fortunate to kill a pile of birds over the years, but I shudder to think how much better I may have done if I hadn't yelped 3 times and waited for the first 15 years.........

I'm really having a rough time of it on another forum I talk on, so much Bull Pelosi being spewed by the  younger "into tv" crowd that i'm going mad....who wrote this magical dang rule book ? I want to whoop him......

[bamagtrdude]

Ya, one of THE BEST quotes I've heard recently was from a long-time turkey hunter; basically, he said this:

"There are NO ABSOLUTES in turkey hunting."

  In fact, I was telling my daughter this during breakfast this morning; we're going for youth hunt weekend together...  I said, "There's a reason they call 'em the wild turkey - 'cause THEY ARE WILD, and it's WILD to hunt 'em"...

Tell me a rule, and I'll tell you a hunt where a bird broke the rule.

[SinGin]

I shoot jakes out of a blind opening morning. Just had to add that

[renegade19]

I shoot jakes out of a blind opening morning. Just had to add that

It's ok as long as you don't use decoys!   

[2eagles]

What's the title of this book.  I better buy one because I think I'm doing everything wrong.

[CASH]

A lot of the time we hunters are our own worst enemies. I know I've been guilty of it a time or two. That's why I try not to give hunting advice. I might throw in what works for me every now and then, but I try to keep to just posting smart a$$ comments

[d.winsor]

When I was young, I liked turkey hunting so much that I almost lived in the woods, some of the things these so called turkey hunters were telling me were either lies or they just didn't know.  I just learnt by my mistakes, at least I knew it was not wrong information or lies.  I haven't been on this forum long but I think the new hunters have a good chance here, I wish there was a forum around when I was young.  The biggest lesson I ever learnt is that the rules change everytime you go into the woods to turkey hunt.

[hookedspur]

Every time I have killed one I think SO that's how I'm supposed to do it ! I have this down now !!



Then the next 3 or 4 times out they make me out the FOOL .

[Gooserbat]

I don't think anything is set in stone but I do believe there are several "more likely scenarios" 

[L.F. Cox]

There's a set of rules of engagement in the book titled Old Pro Turkey Hunter.

[Rio Fan]

I shoot jakes out of a blind opening morning. Just had to add that

That made me laugh out loud.  Do what makes you happy! 

[guesswho]

I wish there was a forum around when I was young.

I'm just the opposite.  I'm thankful I didn't have 30,000 turkey hunting experts and TV personalities to teach me how to do it.  I couldn't imagine getting on a forum and trying to sort through all the syfy stuff.

As far as a rule book it wouldn't do much good, people would pick the parts they liked and call BS on the other stuff.

[Hognutz]

I shoot jakes out of a blind opening morning. Just had to add that

With lead and at 60 yards!!   

[R AJ]

Hey, if anyone says they know all there is to know about turkey hunting then as soon as they start talking just run. I'm with you man. Any turkey hunter knows that turkeys that have never been hunted act differently from those that have been called to with everything including  yaller yelper.

Just like bass tournament fishing you need to separate the lies from what you know.

I learn new stuff every year. The sad part is that I forget what I learned yesterday it seems.

You are right on brother and it happens every time .

[MKMGOBL]

I wish there was a forum around when I was young.

I'm just the opposite.  I'm thankful I didn't have 30,000 turkey hunting experts and TV personalities to teach me how to do it.  I couldn't imagine getting on a forum and trying to sort through all the syfy stuff.

As far as a rule book it wouldn't do much good, people would pick the parts they liked and call BS on the other stuff.

X2 there guesswho   I never regret learning the way I did & so glad there wasn't the internet or any of the "turkey porn"

Listen to the old times & putting lot of dirt in the treads of my boots